Glossary of leaf morphology#aristate

File:Leaf morphology.svg

The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets).{{Cite book |title=The Ultimate Visual Family Dictionary |publisher=DK Pub. |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-1434-1954-9 |location=New Delhi |pages=136–137 |language=en}} The edge of the leaf may be regular or irregular, and may be smooth or have hair, bristles, or spines. For more terms describing other aspects of leaves besides their overall morphology see the leaf article.

The terms listed here all are supported by technical and professional usage, but they cannot be represented as mandatory or undebatable; readers must use their judgement. Authors often use terms arbitrarily, or coin them to taste, possibly in ignorance of established terms, and it is not always clear whether because of ignorance, or personal preference, or because usages change with time or context, or because of variation between specimens, even specimens from the same plant.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} For example, whether to call leaves on the same tree "acuminate", "lanceolate", or "linear" could depend on individual judgement, or which part of the tree one collected them from. The same cautions might apply to "caudate", "cuspidate", and "mucronate", or to "crenate", "dentate", and "serrate".

Another problem is to establish definitions that meet all cases or satisfy all authorities and readers. For example, it seems altogether reasonable to define a mucro as "a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib", but it may not be clear how small is small enough, how sharp is sharp enough, how hard the point must be, and what to call the point when one cannot tell whether the leaf has a midrib at all. Various authors or field workers might come to incompatible conclusions, or might try to compromise by qualifying terms so vaguely that a description of a particular plant practically loses its value.

Use of these terms is not restricted to leaves, but may be applied to morphology of other parts of plants, e.g. bracts, bracteoles, stipules, sepals, petals, carpels or scales. Some of these terms are also used for similar-looking anatomical features on animals.

Leaf structure

Leaves of most plants include a flat structure called the blade or lamina supported by a network of veins, a petiole and a leaf base; but not all leaves are flat, some are cylindrical.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Leaves may be simple, with a single leaf blade, or compound, with several leaflets. Compound leaves may be pinnate with pinnae (leaflets) on both sides of a rachis (axis), or may be palmate with multiple leaflets arising from a single point. Leaf structure is described by several terms that include:

File:Bipinnate leaf anatomy with alternate labels.jpg File:Leaf morphology type ternately-compound palmate-ternate sessile.png but no rachis (or rachillae)]]

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="margin:auto; width:80% ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Image ! scope="col" \| Term ! scope="col" \| Latin ! scope="col" \| Description
rowspan="3" \| 100px	wikt:bifoliolate	rowspan="3" \|	rowspan="3" \| Having two leaflets{{Cite book \|title=Vascular Plant Systematics \|last1=Radford \| first1 = A.E. \| first2 = W.C. \| last2 = Dickison \| first3 = J.R. \| last3 = Massey \| first4 = C.R. \|last4 = Bell \|year=1976 \|publisher=Harper and Row, New York \|chapter=Phytography - Morphological Evidence \|chapter-url=http://www.ibiblio.org/botnet/glossary/}}
{{vanchor\|geminate}}
{{vanchor\|jugate}}
100px	wikt:bigeminate		Having two leaflets, each leaflet being bifoliolate
100px	wikt:bipinnate	{{lang\|la\|bipinnatus}}	The leaflets are themselves pinnately-compound; twice pinnate see imparipinnate and paripinnate
100px	wikt:biternate		With three components, each with three leaflets
rowspan="2" \| 100px	wikt:imparipinnate		rowspan="2" \| With an odd number of leaflets, pinnate with a terminal leaflet (the opposite of paripinnate)
{{vanchor\|odd-pinnate}}
rowspan="2" \| 100px	wikt:paripinnate		rowspan="2" \| Pinnate with an even number of leaflets, lacking a terminal leaflet (the opposite of imparipinnate)
even-pinnate
100px	wikt:palmate	palmatus	Consisting of leaflets all radiating from one point
100px	{{anchor\|simple}} simple		Leaf blade in one continuous section, without leaflets (not compound)
rowspan="3" \| 100px	wikt:ternate	{{lang\|la\|ternatus}}	rowspan="3" \| With three leaflets
wikt:trifoliate \| {{lang\|la\|trifoliatus}}
wikt:trifoliolate \| {{lang\|la\|trifoliolatus}}
100px	wikt:tripinnate	{{lang\|la\|tripinnatus}}	Pinnately compound in which each leaflet is itself bipinnate

Leaf and leaflet shapes

Being one of the more visible features, leaf shape is commonly used for plant identification. Similar terms are used for other plant parts, such as petals, tepals, and bracts.

File:Cilantro leaf.jpg or cilantro)]]

File:Hibiscus mutabilis 5.JPG revealing palmate venation in simple leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis]]

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="margin:auto; width:80% ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Image ! scope="col" \| Term ! scope="col" \| Latin ! scope="col" \| Refers principally to ! scope="col" \| Description
100px	{{vanchor\|acicular}}	{{lang\|la\|acicularis}}	whole leaf	Slender and pointed, needle-like
100px	{{vanchor\|acuminate}}	{{lang\|la\|acuminatus}}	leaf tip	Tapering to a long point in a concave manner
100px	{{vanchor\|acute}}		leaf tip or base	Pointed, having a short sharp apex angled less than 90°
100px	{{vanchor\|apiculate}}	{{Lang\|la\|apiculatus}}	leaf tip	Tapering and ending in a short, slender point
100px	{{vanchor\|aristate}}	{{lang\|la\|aristatus}}	leaf tip	Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point
	{{vanchor\|asymmetrical}}		whole leaf	With the blade shape different on each side of the midrib
100px	{{vanchor\|attenuate}}	{{lang\|la\|attenuatus}} \| leaf base	Having leaf tissue taper down the petiole to a narrow base and always having some leaf material on each side of the petiole
100px	{{vanchor\|auriculate}}	{{lang\|la\|auriculatus}} \| leaf base	Having ear-shaped appendages reaching beyond the attachment to the petiole or stem (in case of a seated leaf)
100px	{{vanchor\|caudate}}	{{lang\|la\|caudatus}}	leaf tip	Tailed at the apex
	{{vanchor\|cirrus}}, {{vanchor\|cirrate}}		leaf tip	Having a rachis that extends beyond the leaf blade or leaflets into a long whip-like extension or cirrus (common in climbing palms); antonym: ecirrate
100px	{{vanchor\|cordate}}, {{vanchor\|cordiform}}	{{lang\|la\|cordatus}}	whole leaf or base	Heart-shaped, with the petiole or stem attached to the notch
100px	{{vanchor\|cuneate}}	{{lang\|la\|cuneatus}}	leaf base	Triangular, wedge-shaped, stem attaches to point
	{{vanchor\|cuneiform}}		whole leaf	Narrowly triangular, widest on the opposite end from the stem, with the corners at that end rounded
100px	{{vanchor\|cuspidate}}	{{lang\|la\|cuspidatus}}	leaf tip	With a sharp, elongated, rigid tip; tipped with a cusp
100px	{{vanchor\|deltoid}}, {{vanchor\|deltate}}	{{lang\|la\|deltoideus}}	whole leaf	Shaped like the Greek letter delta; triangular with stem attached to side
100px	{{vanchor\|digitate}}	{{lang\|la\|digitatus}}	whole leaf	A palmately compound leaf with leaflets, similar to palmateIndex of Garden Plants, Mark Griffiths, Timber Press, 1992
	{{vanchor\|ecirrate}}		leaf tip	Without a cirrus; antonym: cirrate
100px	{{vanchor\|elliptic}}	{{lang\|la\|ellipticus}}	whole leaf	Shaped like an ellipse (widest at mid-blade and with similar convex tapering towards apex and base), with a short or no point
100px	{{vanchor\|emarginate}}	{{lang\|la\|emarginatus}} \| leaf tip	Slightly indented at the tip
100px	{{vanchor\|ensiform}}	{{lang\|la\|ensiformis}}	whole leaf	Shaped like a sword; long and narrow with a sharp pointed tip
100px	{{vanchor\|falcate}}	{{lang\|la\|falcatus}}	whole leaf	Sickle-shaped
100px	{{vanchor\|fenestrate}}	{{lang\|la\|fenestratus}}	leaf surface features	Large openings through the leaf; see perforate; sometimes used to describe leaf epidermal windows
100px	{{vanchor\|filiform}}	{{lang\|la\|filiformis}}	whole leaf	Thread- or filament-shaped
100px	{{vanchor\|flabellate}}	{{lang\|la\|flabellatus}}	whole leaf	Semi-circular or fan-like
100px	{{vanchor\|hastate}}	{{lang\|la\|hastatus}}	whole leaf or base	Spear-shaped: pointed, with barbs, shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base
100px	{{vanchor\|laciniate}}	lacinatus \| whole leaf	Very deeply lobed with the lobes being very drawn out and often making the leaf look somewhat like a branch or a pitchfork
	{{vanchor\|laminar}}		3-D shape	Flat (like most leaves)
100px	{{vanchor\|lanceolate}}	{{lang\|la\|lanceolatus}}	whole leaf	Long, wider in the middle, shaped like a lance tip
100px	{{vanchor\|linear}}	{{lang\|la\|linearis}}	whole leaf	Long and very narrow like a blade of grass
100px	{{vanchor\|lobed}}	{{lang\|la\|lobatus}}	whole leaf	Being divided by clefts; may be pinnately lobed or palmately lobed
100px	{{vanchor\|lorate}}	{{lang\|la\|loratus}}	whole leaf	Having the form of a thong or strap
100px	{{vanchor\|lyrate}}	{{lang\|la\|lyratus}}	whole leaf	Shaped like a lyre, pinnately lobed leaf with an enlarged terminal lobe and smaller lateral lobes. See also List of lyrate plants.
100px	{{vanchor\|mucronate}}	mucronatus \| leaf tip	Ending abruptly in a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib[http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Mucronate&gwp=13 Mucronate] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215034/http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Mucronate&gwp=13 \|date=2016-03-03 }}, Answers.com, from Roget's Thesaurus.
100px	{{vanchor\|multifid}}	{{lang\|la\|multi}} + {{lang\|la\|findere}}	whole leaf	Cleft into many parts or lobes
100px	{{vanchor\|obcordate}}	{{lang\|la\|obcordatus}}	whole leaf	Heart-shaped, stem attaches at the tapering end
100px	{{vanchor\|oblanceolate}}	{{lang\|la\|oblanceolatus}}	whole leaf	Much longer than wide and with the widest portion near the tip; reversed lanceolate
100px	{{vanchor\|oblique}}		leaf base	Asymmetrical leaf base, with one side lower than the other
100px	{{vanchor\|oblong}}	{{lang\|la\|oblongus}}	whole leaf	Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides; roughly rectangular
72px	{{vanchor\|obovate}}	{{lang\|la\|obovatus}}	whole leaf	Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end; reversed ovate
	{{vanchor\|obtrullate}}		whole leaf	Reversed trullate; the longer sides meet at the base rather than the apex.
100px	{{vanchor\|obtuse}}	{{lang\|la\|obtusus}}	leaf tip or base	Blunt, forming an angle > 90°
100px	{{vanchor\|orbicular}}	{{lang\|la\|orbicularis}}	whole leaf	Circular
100px	{{vanchor\|ovate}}	{{lang\|la\|ovatus}}	whole leaf	Egg-shaped, with a tapering point and the widest portion near the petiole
100px	{{vanchor\|palmate}}	{{lang\|la\|palmatus}}	whole leaf	Palm-shaped, i.e. with lobes or leaflets stemming from the leaf base{{cite web \| url = http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/palmate.html \| title = palmate (adj. palmately) \| year=2006 \| work = GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms \|publisher=iVillage GardenWeb \| access-date = 19 October 2008 \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213124631/http://glossary.gardenweb.com:80/glossary/palmate.html \| archive-date = 13 February 2009 \| url-status = dead }}
100px	{{vanchor\|palmately lobed}}	{{lang\|la\|palmatus}}	whole leaf	Lobes spread radially from a point{{Cite web\|last1= Nelson \|first1=Randal C. \|url=https://www.cs.rochester.edu/~nelson/wildflowers/glossaries/leaves/index.html#lobed \|title=Leaf description glossary \|year= 2009 \|orig-date=2012 \|website=University of Rochester \|access-date=2 November 2017 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801032721/https://www.cs.rochester.edu/~nelson/wildflowers/glossaries/leaves/index.html \|archive-date=1 August 2020 \| url-status = dead}}
100px	{{vanchor\|palmatifid}}	{{lang\|la\|palma}} + {{lang\|la\|findere}}	whole leaf	Palm-shaped, having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway toward the petiole
100px	{{vanchor\|palmatipartite}}	{{lang\|la\|palma}} + {{lang\|la\|partiri}}	whole leaf	Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend over halfway toward the petiole
100px	{{vanchor\|palmatisect}}	{{lang\|la\|palma}} + {{lang\|la\|secare}}	whole leaf	Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend almost up, but not quite to the petiole.
100px	{{vanchor\|pandurate}}	panduratus \| whole leaf	Fiddle-shaped; obovate with a constriction near the middle.
100px	{{vanchor\|pedate}}	{{lang\|la\|pedatus}}	whole leaf	Palmate, with cleft lobes{{cite book \|last1= Nicholson \|first1= George \|last2= Garret\|first2= John\|last3= Trail \|first3= JWH\|date=1887–1889 \|title= The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening \|location= London \|publisher= L. Upcott Gill \|isbn=978-1436572316 }}
100px	{{vanchor\|peltate}}	{{lang\|la\|peltatus}}	stem attachment	A round leaf where the petiole attaches near the center, e.g. a lotus leaf
100px	{{vanchor\|perfoliate}}	{{lang\|la\|perfoliatus}}	stem attachment	With the leaf blade surrounding the stem such that the stem appears to pass through the leaf
100px	{{vanchor\|perforate}}	{{lang\|la\|perforatus}}	leaf surface features \| Many holes, or perforations, on leaf surface. Compare with fenestrate.
100px	{{vanchor\|pinnately lobed}}	{{lang\|la\|pinna}} + {{lang\|la\|lobus}}	whole leaf	Having lobes pinnately arranged on the central axis
100px	{{vanchor\|pinnatifid}}	{{lang\|la\|pinna}} + {{lang\|la\|findere}}	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway to the midrib
100px	{{vanchor\|pinnatipartite}}	{{lang\|la\|pinnatus}} + {{lang\|la\|partiri}}	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend more than halfway to the midrib
100px	{{vanchor\|pinnatisect}}	{{lang\|la\|pinnatus}} + {{lang\|la\|sectus}}	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend almost to, or up to, the midrib
100px	{{vanchor\|reniform}}	{{lang\|la\|reniformis}}	whole leaf	Shaped like a kidney, with an inward curve on one side
100px	{{vanchor\|retuse}}		leaf tip	With a shallow notch in a round apex
100px	{{vanchor\|rhomboid}}, {{vanchor\|rhombic}}	{{lang\|la\|rhomboidalis}}	whole leaf	Diamond-shaped
100px	{{vanchor\|rounded}}	{{lang\|la\|rotundifolius}}	leaf tip or base	Circular, no distinct point
	semiterete		3-D shape	Rounded on one side and flat on the other
100px	{{vanchor\|sagittate}}	{{lang\|la\|sagittatus}}	whole leaf	Arrowhead-shaped with the lower lobes folded, or curled downward
100px	{{vanchor\|spatulate}}	{{lang\|la\|spathulatus}}	whole leaf	Spoon-shaped; having a broad flat end which tapers to the base
100px	{{vanchor\|spear}}-shaped	{{lang\|la\|hastatus}} \| whole leaf	See hastate.
100px	{{vanchor\|subobtuse}}	{{lang\|la\|subobtusus}}	leaf tip or base	Somewhat blunted; neither blunt nor sharp
100px	{{vanchor\|subulate}}	{{lang\|la\|subulatus}}	leaf tip	Awl-shaped with a tapering point
100px	{{vanchor\|terete}}		3-D shape	Cylindrical with a circular or distorted circular cross-section and a single surface wrapping around it with no grooves or ridges. Subterete means the leaves are not completely terete, as seen in various lichens and succulents.
100px	{{vanchor\|trullate}}		whole leaf	Shaped like a masonry trowel
100px	{{vanchor\|truncate}}	{{lang\|la\|truncatus}}	leaf tip or base	With a squared-off end
	{{vanchor\|undulate}}	{{lang\|la\|undulatus}}	3-D shape	Wave-like
100px	{{vanchor\|unifoliate}}	{{lang\|la\|unifoliatus}}	compound leaves	With a single leaflet; it is distinct from a simple leaf by the presence of two abscission layers and often by petiolules and stipels.

Edge

Leaf margins (edges) are frequently used in visual plant identification because they are usually consistent within a species or group of species, and are an easy characteristic to observe. Edge and margin are interchangeable in the sense that they both refer to the outside perimeter of a leaf.

scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Image ! scope="col" \| Term ! scope="col" \| Latin ! scope="col" \| Description
class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="margin:auto; width:80%
100px	{{anchor\|Entire}}{{anchor\|entire}}entire	Forma integra	Even; with a smooth margin; without toothing
100px	{{anchor\|Ciliate}}{{anchor\|ciliate}}ciliate	ciliatus	Fringed with hairs
100px	{{anchor\|Crenate}}{{anchor\|crenate}}crenate	crenatus	Wavy-toothed; dentate with rounded teeth
	\|{{anchor\|Crenulate}}{{anchor\|crenulate}}crenulate	crenulatus	Finely crenate
	\|{{anchor\|Crisped}}{{anchor\|crisped}}crisped	crispus	Curly
100px	{{anchor\|Dentate}}{{anchor\|dentate}}dentate	dentatus	Toothed; may be {{anchor\|coarsely dentate}}coarsely dentate, having large teeth or {{anchor\|glandular dentate}}glandular dentate, having teeth which bear glands
100px	{{anchor\|Denticulate}}{{anchor\|denticulate}}denticulate	denticulatus	Finely toothed
100px	{{anchor\|Doubly serrate}}{{anchor\|doubly serrate}}doubly serrate	duplicato-dentatus	Each tooth bearing smaller teeth
100px	{{anchor\|Serrate}}{{anchor\|serrate}}serrate	serratus	Saw-toothed; with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward
100px	{{anchor\|Serrulate}}{{anchor\|serrulate}}serrulate	serrulatus	Finely serrate
100px	{{anchor\|Sinuate}}{{anchor\|sinuate}}sinuate	sinuosus	With deep, wave-like indentations; coarsely crenate
100px	{{anchor\|Lobate}}{{anchor\|lobate}}lobate	lobatus	Indented, with the indentations not reaching the center
100px	{{anchor\|Undulate}}{{anchor\|undulate}}undulate	undulatus	With a wavy edge, shallower than sinuate
100px	{{anchor\|Spiny}}{{anchor\|spiny}}spiny or {{anchor\|pungent}}pungent	spiculatus	With stiff, sharp points such as thistles

Leaf folding

Leaves may also be folded, sculpted or rolled in various ways. If the leaves are initially folded in the bud, but later unrolls it is called vernation, ptyxis is the folding of an individual leaf in a bud.

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="margin:auto; width:80% ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Image ! scope="col" \| Term ! scope="col" \| Latin ! scope="col" \| Description
\|	{{vanchor\|carinate}} or keeled	carinatus	With a longitudinal ridge, keel-shaped
100px	{{vanchor\|conduplicate}}		Folded upwards, with the surfaces close to parallel
\|100px	{{vanchor\|cucullate}}		Forming a hood, margins and tip curved downward
\|100px	{{vanchor\|involute}}		Rolled upwards (towards the adaxial surface)
100px	{{vanchor\|plicate}}	plicatus	With parallel folds
\|	{{vanchor\|reduplicate}}		Folded downwards, with the surfaces close to parallel
100px	{{vanchor\|revolute}}		Rolled downwards (towards the abaxial surface)
\|	{{vanchor\|supervolute}}		Opposing left and right halves of lamina folded along longitudinal axis, with one half rolled completely within the other

Latin descriptions

The Latin word for 'leaf', {{lang|la|folium}}, is neuter. In descriptions of a single leaf, the neuter singular ending of the adjective is used, e.g. {{lang|la|folium lanceolatum}} 'lanceolate leaf', {{lang|la|folium lineare}} 'linear leaf'. In descriptions of multiple leaves, the neuter plural is used, e.g. {{lang|la|folia linearia}} 'linear leaves'. Descriptions commonly refer to the plant using the ablative singular or plural, e.g. {{lang|la|foliis ovatis}} 'with ovate leaves'.{{sfnp|Stearn|2004|pp=439–440}}

References

Bibliography

{{Cite book |first=W.T. |last=Stearn |year=2004 |title=Botanical Latin |edition=4th (p/b) |location=Portland, Oregon |isbn=978-0-7153-1643-6 |publisher=Timber Press }}
{{cite web|title=Leaves|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/botnet/glossary/a_v.html}}, in {{harvtxt|Massey|Murphy|1996}}
{{cite web|title=Shapes|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/botnet/glossary/b_iii.html}}, in {{harvtxt|Massey|Murphy|1996}}
{{cite web|last1=Massey|first1=Jimmy R.|last2=Murphy|first2=James C.|title=Vascular plant systematics|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/botnet/glossary/|website=NC Botnet|publisher=University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|access-date=19 January 2016|date=1996}}

External links

[https://www.cs.rochester.edu/users/faculty/nelson/wildflowers/glossaries/leaves/index.html#shape The Description of Leaves, University of Rochester]
[http://www.virtualherbarium.org/glossary/glossary.php?cid=29 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160222055914/http://www.vplants.org/plants/glossary/plate03.html Vplants]
[http://waynesword.palomar.edu/termlf2.htm Botany 115] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228221759/http://waynesword.palomar.edu/termlf2.htm |date=2015-12-28 }}
[http://theseedsite.co.uk/leafshapes.html The seed site]

Leaf morphology

Category:Leaf morphology

Category:Wikipedia glossaries using tables